Inflatable air bed

• US 5,598,593 A
• Filed: 02/10/1995
• Issued: 02/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aqua Leisure Industries Incorporated (Aqua-Leisure Industries)
• Original Assignee: Aqua Leisure Industries Incorporated (Aqua-Leisure Industries)
• Inventors: Wolfe, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Grosz, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US08/387,023
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 5/455, 5/457, 5/458, 5/710, 5/711, 5/712
• US Class Current: 5/710
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/081 of pneumatic type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/087 with means for connecting opposite sides, e.g. internal ties or strips
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/10 with two or more independently-fillable chambers

Abstract

An inflatable air bed. The air bed includes an inflatable lower chamber and an inflatable upper chamber overlying and attached to the lower chamber. Each chamber includes at least one valve for inflating and deflating the chamber. The lower chamber provides support for the upper chamber, which can be independently adjusted for user comfort.

Claims

1. An inflatable air bed, comprising:

an inflatable lower chamber having an outer periphery, at least one valve for inflating and deflating the entire lower chamber, and longitudinally extending retention members to limit outward expansion of said lower chamber upon gas inflation; and

an inflatable upper chamber, having an outer periphery, at least one valve for inflating and deflating the entire upper chamber, and longitudinally extending tubular O-beam retention members to limit outward expansion of said upper chamber,

a non-inflatable middle chamber having a central gusset band welded to the outer periphery of said lower and upper chambers.

2. The air bed of claim 1, wherein said lower and upper chambers are constructed of a soft, flexible, resilient material.

3. The air bed of claim 2, wherein said resilient material is polyvinyl chloride.

4. The air bed of claim 1, wherein said lower and upper chambers are constructed of a material having a thickness of between about 12 and about 28 gauge.

5. The air bed of claim 4, wherein said lower chamber is constructed of a material having a thickness of between about 12 and about 20 gauge.

6. The air bed of claim 4, wherein said upper chamber is constructed of a material having a thickness of between about 16 and about 28 gauge.

7. The air bed of claim 1, wherein said upper chamber further includes a flocking material outer covering.

8. The air bed of claim 1, wherein said upper chamber further includes a top and a bottom layer, and said longitudinally extending tubular O-beam retention members are welded to said top and bottom layers in said upper chamber in a series of spaced welds.

9. An inflatable air bed, comprising:

an inflatable lower chamber having a top layer, a bottom layer, and a side gusset panel extending around and attached to the outer edges of the lower chamber top and bottom layer;

an inflatable upper chamber supported by the lower chamber and having a top layer, a bottom layer, and a side gusset panel extending around and attached to the outer edges of the upper chamber top and bottom layer;

the inflatable lower and upper chambers each having longitudinally extending retention structures joined to the top and bottom layers of each chamber to limit outward expansion, and at least one valve for inflating and deflating the entire chamber, and

a non-inflatable middle chamber having a central gusset band welded to the outer edges of the upper and lower chambers to attach the upper chamber to the lower chamber.

10. The air bed of claim 9, wherein said top layer, bottom layer, and side gusset panel of said lower and upper chambers are constructed of a soft, flexible, resilient material.

11. The air bed of claim 10, wherein said material is polyvinyl chloride.

12. The air bed of claim 9, wherein said top layer, bottom layer, and side gusset panel of said lower and upper chambers are constructed of a material having a thickness of between about 12 and about 28 gauge.

13. The air bed of claim 12, wherein said top layer, bottom layer, and side gusset panel of said lower chamber is constructed of a material having a thickness of between about 12 and about 20 gauge.

14. The air bed of claim 12, wherein said top layer, bottom layer, and side gusset panel of said upper chamber is constructed of a material having a thickness of between about 16 and about 28 gauge.

15. The air bed of claim 9, wherein said central gusset band, and said lower and upper chamber side gusset panels are formed from a single side gusset portion extending around and attached to the outer edges of the lower and upper chamber top and bottom layers.

16. The air bed of claim 9, wherein said longitudinally extending retention structures in said upper chamber include tubular O-beams, which are welded to the top and bottom layers in said chamber in a series of spaced welds.

17. The air bed of claim 9, wherein said top layer of said inflatable upper chamber is covered with a flocking material.

18. The air bed of claim 11, wherein said flocking material is made of rayon fiber.

19. The air bed of claim 9, wherein said longitudinally extending retention members of said upper chamber comprise a plurality of coil beam structures.

20. The air bed of claim 19, wherein said longitudinally extending coil beam structures are welded to said top and bottom layers in said upper chamber in a series of spaced welds.